We will promote training in specialties that are of strategic importance for our economy and are most needed on the labor market. Higher education institutions must prepare specialists with key skills and in this regard we are considering introducing a scholarship for future students who apply with mathematics or natural sciences to our higher education institutions. This was said by the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev during a meeting with the Academic Council of the University of Forestry - Sofia. The discussion is part of the local talks at the universities that the Minister initiated after taking office.
The Minister emphasized that the University of Forestry has serious potential, and its strongest point is its narrow specialization. “You have your important place in the higher education market and a key role in preparing specialists that our country needs. Focus on the strong professional areas and build on them by adapting teaching to the needs of the changing labor market“, the Minister addressed the representatives of the Academic Council.
The Forestry University is the only one in Bulgaria that offers training in the professional area of “Forestry“. It is extremely important for our country and therefore we must work to improve its reputation, representatives of the Academic Council commented during the meeting. According to data from the Higher Education Ranking System, the average taxable income of “Forestry“ graduates in the last 5 years is nearly 2,500 leva, and of bachelors - over 2,100 leva. Unemployment among graduates is almost zero – 0.5% among bachelors and 1.8% among masters.
The Forestry University is also in first place in the country in training in the professional field of "Veterinary Medicine" together with the Thracian University - Stara Zagora. Unemployment among its graduates is only 0.85%, and the average taxable income is about 1750 leva. Foreign students from 25 countries study in the field.
The Forestry University has also developed extensive practical training in a number of fields. “We have internships every academic year. Our students from each specialty spend an average of 10 days each semester in the field - in a laboratory, company, enterprise, farm. They work with animals if they study "Veterinary Medicine" or in our fruit farms,“ explained the rector of the university, Assoc. Prof. Hristo Mihaylov. During the meeting, it was commented that it is the experience of the Forestry University that should be effectively used in the introduction and deployment of dual training in higher education. In this regard, the project of the Ministry of Education and Science “From Higher Education to Employment”, whose main goal is to encourage higher education institutions to partner with companies and deploy this type of training, was also commented on.